When Are You ‘Elderly’?

In many cultures, it's an honour to be known as 'an elder'. I've probably told the story before of when my sister and I were on a little tourist bus on a New Zealand beach. The driver, when he was getting close to the lodge where we were staying, said,'I'll just drop the elder ladies off here'. We looked at each other but as there was nobody else on the bus who met the description, realised that he meant us. But it was an honourable title and we were quite happy to be thought of as 'elders'. 'Elderly' is another matter. It's just a euphemism for 'old'. When did you ever see a newspaper report referring to an 'old' person as the victim of a crime or an accident, even if, by all possible criteria, that person is actually 'old'? I'm 80 - I don't mind being old!

Never! It's a word I hate. I'd much rather be "old."

My late mum used to do shopping for her neighbour she called the ‘ elderly lady next door ‘ who was 87. My mum was 85. It’s all in the mind.

My mum refused a walking stick after her knee replacements because only old people used them and she was only 73 years old. As the saying goes "you are as old as you feel".

Last week my 7 year old granddaughter was studying the stages of life as part of her home schooling. Apparently the national curriculum is telling children that people are elderly at 65! I am 70 and walk at least 5 miles every day - without the aid of a walking stick!

My grandmother was amazed that, in her final stay in hospital, she was put in a geriatric ward. She was a mere ninety at the time.

I was talking to a client of mine yesterday and she asked what would happen to her in her old age with regards housing. I asked how old she was, 33 she replied. So? she asked 'when I get to 50 what will happen to me?' I felt old!

Oh goodness “elderly “ reminds me of those yellow street signs with two people with walking sticks , Beware Elderly People Crossing!! Reminds me of ones we saw in Perth Australia saying Kangaroos Crossing!! By the way our friends in Perth moved into a gated secure retirement complex for “oldies “when they were 60 and 62 although both were still working full time , most of the people there were retired but the facilities are amazing lovely one or two bed bungalows, bowls green , tennis courts , swimming pool, computer rooms , library etc ., so I think that’s the reason they moved there a bit like perpetual holiday complex but that’s another story !!!
We all feel different (or not )
when things happen in life to lift us up or drag us down ... I have been to the shops only two times since last March due to being extremely clinically vulnerable according to the NHS letters from Matt Hancock , no doubt lots of you have all received them , well I felt quite good until I started receiving them approximately every two months , made me feel that going out would possibly end with me being on life support in a hospital bed, not something any of us want ... now had my COVID vaccination, arm ache and headache today so hubby’s looking after me but I still don’t feel elderly , perhaps I will do after my 75th birthday in April !

Lizzypopbottle!

Well, when I was in my 20's I used to think anyone over 30 was elderly...

At 34 I was an elderly primagravada and similarly felt affronted as other posters.

My aunt who is 94 did say to me she thought she had done with growing old and thought that perhaps she had now arrived. Incidentally it was this aunt who came up with the opinion which led to my username on here. I'm sure I don't know what she means?

@Carolpaint- How can you tell if the geriatrician is a psycho or not?

Meant to say at just turned 25.

I stick with 'getting on a bit'. I too was told I had just got in with my first before I was classed as primagravida.

I was also described as a primagravida at 27 so also wonder what I would have been called at the birth of my third child at the age of 40! I find the term elderly offensive and instead of chronological age I work on biological age. There are various ways of working out your biological age using mental and physical measures. It can also work the other way and add years instead of taking them away!

I think the defining moment is when you stop tripping or falling over and "have a fall" instead

I am sure utility companies are legally obliged to prioritise older people though not aware if what age is the catalyst for priority. I do chuckle at myself when out shopping and encounter older folk who seem to be so dithery at the checkout eg insisting on packing in the trolley instead of taking shopping to the packing shelf, not having their credit card ready and them rummaging in bags and purses or counting out their bill in a mountain of coins and worst of all, leaving mid checkout to go get something they have forgotten, no social distancing. To me they are old!

When we start acting like it- so I'll never be elderly lol My mum at the age of 82 often describes one of her neighbours, of the same age, as the old lady up the road. she would be mortified if she was described in the same way.

I was an elderly prima gravida at age 24!!!

At 72 and pretty fit I am only 'elderly' when it suits me!

PamSJ1

55 apparently. I was devastated when someone told a child to 'mind the old lady'. I do use a stick as I have osteoarthritis and had my face mask and bubble that on but still!

Typo should read bobble hat

55 apparently. I was devastated when someone told a child to 'mind the old lady'. I do use a stick as I have osteoarthritis and had my face mask and bubble that on but still!

I can remember my granny (aged 80) talking about an outing arranged by a local club saying 'I'm not going on a coach with all those old dears.' She could not understand why this was thought to be funny by her grandchildren, but now I understand!

I had a phone consultation with the hospital recently. She asked me if I could get someone to bring me in to have a blood test. I was shocked that she presumed because I am nearing 70 that I couldn't drive. I went on to tell her that I lived on a narrow boat and would be isolated without my car. Me elderly...hahaha. My favourite mask has the words "Assuming I'm an old lady was your first mistake" blazened across it

75 is when you become elderly. It's how you feel though. As they say, age is just a number.

At 62 I cannot not possibly even be middle aged. My mother who will be 84 next week still claims to be middle aged and so until she moves on to elderly there is no vacancy yet.

When I am feeling old I facetime my friend the same age. We have a moan then her dad aged nearly 100 calls us lass. Then we are young again.